U.S. Builds Up Patriot Air Defense Forces
1- 17.07.2025, 17:24
- 2,086

The U.S. Army plans to form four new battalions.
The US Army will increase the number of Patriot surface-to-air missile systems by about a quarter. The decision is due to the fact that the existing 15 battalions (of which only 14 are fully combat-ready) are unable to cope with the current workload, writes TWZ (translated by Charter97.org).
One of the battalions has spent nearly 500 days in the Middle East and was recently involved in repelling the largest-ever Iranian ballistic missile salvo against the Al Udeid base in Qatar.
Plans also include deploying a new Patriot battalion to the island of Guam, a strategic outpost in the Pacific. The Army expects the introduction of new 360° radar systems to double the effectiveness of existing units.
The Army will additionally deploy new medium-range IFPC systems, which use AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles as interceptors. These systems should take some of the load off Patriot, especially in lower threat scenarios.
Special attention is being paid to countering drones. The Army is developing M-SHORAD mobile systems based on Stryker armored vehicles, as well as studying laser and microwave technologies. The development of low-cost solutions, from programmable 30mm projectiles to Coyote interceptors, has also become an important focus.
With the growing external threat, expanding air defense forces is becoming a critical element of U.S. defense capability.